Turning control signal

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for signaling a malfunction in the turning motion of egg trays in an incubator. The apparatus includes an egg tray position sensor, an electric circuit and a signal. The turning motion of the tray directly affects the position of the sensor and directly triggers the signal.

United States Patene MacKinnon 1 1 Aug. 7 1973 TURNING CONTROL SIGNAL3,147.73? 9/1964 Theilig 119/35 [75] Inventor: Allan A. MacKinnon,Gloucester,

England Primary ExaminerRussell R. Kinsey [73] Assignee: AssociatedManufacturers Assistant mi 8 N- E kOVitZ International, S. A., Chicago,111. A yh House & Wh eler [22] Filed: NOV. 5, 1971 21 pp] No 196,008[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 119/44 Apparatus for ignaling a malfunctionin the turning [51] Int. Cl AOlk 41/06 otion of gg trays in anincubator. The apparatus in [58] Field Of Search 119/35, 43, 44; dudesan egg tray position sensor, an electric circuit 213-1 and a signal. Theturning motion )f the tray directly affects the position of the sensorand directly triggers the [56] References Cited i L UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,006,320 10/1961 Bailey 119/44 X 7 Claims, 5 Drgwing Figures 7g5 25M 7 m 41 V N V II IH H 111111 111 l l l PATENTED AUG 7 75 TURNINGCONTROL SIGNAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore signal devicesindicating incubator egg tray turning malfunctions have responded toapparatus not directly associated with the trays. Accordingly, falsesignals can be generated in the event ofa malfunction between theapparatus which triggers the signal and the tray itself, thus renderingsuch devices somewhat unreliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention thereis a position sensor directly associated with the egg tray or themechanism which turns it. This sensor responds directly to turningmotion of the tray and triggers the signal. Accordingly, there is areliable and invariable indication of the position of the tray with nopossibility of malfunction or loss of an indication in the event thetray does not turn.

In preferred embodiments each set of trays in an egg rack is providedwith a pair of position sensor switches which are mutually mounted at anangle through which the trays are periodically turned. The respectiveswitches are alternately actuated near the ends of the complete turningmotion of the trays through said angle. All corresponding switches onthe respective racks are connected in series. Each set of seriesconnected switches separately triggers its signal to indicate the properfunctioning of the turning mechanism and the ultimate position of thetray.

The sensing switches are easily attached by a simple clamp mechanism tothe rotating rods which are incorporated in the turning mechanism forthe trays of each rack. The respective sensing units of the respectivetrays have releasable couplings with corresponding sensing units onadjacent racks, thus to connect the corresponding sensing units of aseries of racks in an incubator in series. Any rack may be readilyconnected and disconnected to permit independent movement of the racksin the course of loading and unloading them from the incubator.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram for an incubatorwith a full load of egg racks, each having paired position sensingswitches connected in series in the circuit.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section taken through one of the switch boxeswhich contains a set of paired sensing switches for one of the racks.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner ofconnecting the sensor box to one of the turning rods in a rack.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view indicating the position of the sensingswitches when the trays are turned in one direction.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 4, but indicating theposition of the switches when the trays are turned in the oppositedirection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although the disclosure hereofis detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplifythe invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. Thescope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

The present invention is specifically adapted for incorporation into oras an attachment to the incubator shown in US. Pat. No. 3,147,737granted Sept. 8, 1964, although it can also be incorporated into orattached to turning trays of other incubators.

As is well known in this art, eggs in an incubator are periodicallyturned through an angle of about once each hour. For one hour the eggsare inclined in one direction at a 45 angle to the horizontal, whereuponthey are turned through 90 to incline at the opposite 45 angle, as isillustrated and described in the said US. Pat. No. 3,147,737.

In accordance with the present invention, the box It) contains a trayposition sensor which comprises a pair of mercury tube switches l1, 12.These are mounted with their respective axes intersecting at the sameangle (approximately 90) as the eggs are swung through in the course ofturning motion aforesaid.

Details of the egg tray turning mechanism are shown in said US. Pat. No.3,147,737 (see FIG. 10 in particular) and are repeated in less detail inFIG. 3 hereof. The trays 22 are mounted on vertical hanger rods 13, thetop ends of which are pivotally interconnected by triangular rocker armsor plates 14 having their respective upper apices interconnected by atie bar 15. A motor such as air cylinder 18 has its base pivotallymounted by bracket 19 to an incubator rack wall 20. Piston 17 connectswith tie bar 15 through bracket 16. Mechanism not herein illustratedperiodically energizes the air cylinder 18 to tilt the rocker arms 14,the trays 22 and contained eggs between the extreme positions illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4 egg tray 22 has its eggs 23 inclinedat a 45 angle to the hozizontal. In FIG. 5 the tray 22 has its eggs 23inclined at an opposite 45 angle.

Position sensor box 10 can be physically attached to any of themechanism which moves directly with the egg tray 22, thus to transmitsuch motion directly to the position sensing switches ll, 12 in the box10. In the illustrated embodiment each rocker arm 14 is provided with arock shaft or rod 24, the same being re-enforced in rigid connectionwith the rocker arm 14 by a gusset plate 25.

The bottom of box 10 is provided with a pipe strap 26 with adjustablefastener bolts 27 by which the strap 26 is clamped to the rod 24.Accordingly, box 10 will swing in unison with the rod 24. To insureagainst any dislocation in the position of the box 10 with respect torod 24, the box 10 is desirably positioned in overlapped relationshipwith the gusset plate 25, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, thus tointerlock the box and the rod for concurrent motion.

Egg tray racks 28 are periodically wheeled into and out of the incubatoras described in said US. Pat. No. 3,147,737. Each rack contains threecolumns 29 of stacked egg trays. FIG. 1 illustrates these schematically.All of the trayed eggs in each column 29 in any one rack move together.The circuit and physical connections of the electric parts asillustrated in the drawings provide for easy connection anddisconnection of the sensors of each rack as they are added to andremoved from the circuit.

In the preferred embodiment the set of position sensing switches ll, 12comprise of plug tubeswitches, al-

though other position sensing switches could be substituted therefor.The leads from mercury tube switch 11 are respectively connected toterminal blocks 31, 32, leads 33, 34 therefrom extending through a dualconductor cable 35 to a dual conductor socket 36. The leads from mercurytube switch 12 extend to terminal blocks 37, 38. Leads 40, 41 extendtherefrom through a two-conductor cable 42, terminating in a prongedplug 43. Each sensor set for each rack 28 is similarly arranged. Therespective plugs 43 and sockets 36 are provided with a conventionalpolarizing or nonreversible guide mechanism to insure continuity of theinterconnection of all switches 11 and 12 respectively. For example,socket 36 can be provided with a side groove 39 which interfits withside rib 40 on the shell 50 ofplug 43, thus to key the coupling togetherin polarized relation.

When the incubator is entirely full of eggs, the sensors 10 in racks 28are interconnected as illustrated in FIG. 1. All of the mercury tubeposition sensing switches 11 are in series and all of the mercury tubeposition sensing switches 12 are in series. Two signal lamps,respectively 45 (red) and 46 (white), are provided in a circuitenergized from source 47. Doublepole single-throw relays 48, 49 are alsoprovided, inorder to concurrently energize the appropriate lamps 45, 46and an optional recording clock 52.

In operation the incubator is set up as illustrated in FIG. 1. When theturning control mechanism (not shown) is energized to concurrentlyactuate the air cylinders 18 on all of the racks, thus to turn the trays22 to one inclined position shown in FIG. 4, all of the mercury positionsensing switches 12 will be closed, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and all ofthe mercury sensing switches II will be open, as is also illustrated inFIG. 4. Thus all of the series connected closed switches 12 willcomplete a circuit from source 47 through an appropriate transformer 53through common lead 54, the closed series connected switches 12, lead55, the coil 56 of relay 49 and back through lead 57 to sourcetransformer 53. Energization of coil 56 of relay 49 will cause thecontacts 60, 61 in relay 49 to close, thus completing a circuit fromtransformer 53 through contact 61 to lamp 46 (white), thus lighting upthis lamp. Contact 60 closes a circuit to the recording clock 52 whichhas a separate source of voltage.

Meanwhile, inasmuch as all of the switches 11 are now open, the circuitto lamp 45 (red) will be open, and this lamp will remain extinguished.The illumination of lamp 46 signals the operator that in fact all of theegg trays 22 in the incubator have been properly turned to theirinclined 45 angle position shown in FIG. 4. If white light 46 does notlight up the operator knows that one or more of the switches 12 is openand hence there has been a malfunction in the turning mechanism and thatat least one tray is in an improper position. The operator will theninspect the racks to determine which rack has not turned and will takeremedial action.

When the next turning motion is induced by actuation of air cylinders 18to turn the racks to their FIG. 5 position, switches 12 will all open,thus extinguishing lamp 46. If there is no malfunction, all of theseries connected switches 11 will close, thus to complete a circuit tothe red lamp 45, through lead 54, all of the closed series switches l 1,lead 62, coil 63 in relay 48 and back through lead 57 to the transformer53. Energization of coil 63 will close the contacts 64, 65 in relay 48,thus to concurrently energize red lamp 45 and the recording clock 52.Any malfunction in the turning of the trays to the FIG. 5 position willbe sensed by an open switch 11, thus failing to light lamp 45 andsignaling the operator to correct the malfunction.

It is advantageous that the lamps 45, 46 are alternately illuminated toindicate a correctly turned position of the trays, as distinguished fromleaving the respective lamps unlit, to so indicate.

Periodically, the racks 28 paired at opposite sides of incubator aisle44 at the late stage end of the incubator will be removed and all rackswill be shifted in the direction of the removed racks to leave room fora pair of early stage egg racks to be moved into the incubator at theother ends of the rows, as explained in US. Pat. No. 3,l47,737. The endracks 28 at both ends of each row are disconnected from the circuit byuncoupling the appropriate plugs 36 and sockets 43, thus to permitindependent handling of the racks 28. When new racks with early stageeggs are in position, the appropriate plugs 36 and sockets 43 arecoupled at both ends of both rows to again complete the electricalcircuit as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The mercury tube switches 11, 12 will typically close when horizontal,or nearly so. At any other position the switch will open. Accordingly,the switches 11, 12 will close near the extreme ends of the turningmotion of the trays, as is respectively illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

I claim:

1. In an incubator having an egg tray which is periodically turned andmechanism for turning said tray, the improvement to signal and impropertray position caused by a turning malfunction and comprising an electriccircuit including a position sensor, means mounting said sensor torespond to the improper position of said tray. and signal meanstriggered by llitltl sensor in direct response to the improper positionof the tray.

7 2. The invention of claim 1 in which said mechanism turns said traythrough an angle, said position sensor comprising a pair of sensorswitches mutually mounted at said angle whereby the switches arealternately actuated near the ends of the turning motion of the traythrough said angle, separate signals being actuated by each said switchto separately indicate the position of the tray.

3. The invention of claim 1 in which said incubator has a plurality ofseparate racks having egg trays which are all turned substantiallyconcurrently, each rack having at least one position sensor respondingto the turning of the trays therein, a circuit connecting the sensors ineach rack in series with said signal whereby all sensors must respond inorder to trigger the signal.

4. The invention of claim 3 in which said circuit has releasablecouplings between each rack, to enable the racks to be individuallydisconnected from the circuit in the course of moving them into and outof the incubator.

5. The invention of claim 1 in which the mechanism for turning saidtrays comprises a rod, said sensor being provided with means releasablyclamping it to the rod to move therewith.

6. The invention of claim 5 in which said mechanism further comprises agusset plate, a box for said sensor, said plate and box beinginterlocked by said means to insure concurrent movement of the box andsensor in response to rod movement.

7. The invention of claim 2 in which said switch comprises mercury tubeswhich make contact in one position and which break contact in otherpositions.

t i t i

1. In an incubator having an egg tray which is periodically turned andmechanism for turning said tray, the improvement to signal and impropertray position caused by a turning malfunction and comprising an electriccircuit including a position sensor, means mounting said sensor torespond to the improper position of said tray, and signal meanstriggered by said sensor in direct response to the improper position ofthe tray.
 2. The invention of claim 1 in which said mechanism turns saidtray through an angle, said position sensor comprising a pair of sensorswitches mutually mounted at said angle whereby the switches arealternately actuated near the ends of the turning motion of the traythrough said angle, separate signals being actuated by each said switchto separately indicate the position of the tray.
 3. The invention ofclaim 1 in which said incubator has a plurality of separate racks havingegg trays which are all turned substantially concurrently, each rackhaving at least one position sensor responding to the turning of thetrays therein, a circuit connecting the sensors in each rack in serieswith said signal whereby all sensors must respond in order to triggerthe signal.
 4. The invention of claim 3 in which said circuit hasreleasable couplings between each rack, to enable the racks to beindividually disconnected from the circuit in the course of moving theminto and out of the incubator.
 5. The invention of claim 1 in which themechanism for turning said trays comprises a rod, said sensor beingprovided with means releasably clamping it to the rod to move therewith.6. The invention of claim 5 in which said mechanism further comprises agusset plate, a box for said sensor, said plate and box beinginterlocked by said means to insure concurrent movement of the box andsensor in response to rod movement.
 7. The invention of claim 2 in whichsaid switch comprises mercury tubes which make contact in one positionand which break contact in other positions.